Help thread: Yamaha XJ6 neutral light on but ECU does not see neutral

For Yamaha XJ6 neutral light on but ECU does not see neutral, I would do a visual inspection first. Heat marks, loose grounds, cheap adapters, bad crimps and tired clamps explain a shocking number of problems.

If this involves road testing, keep it legal and safe. A quiet car park teaches more than a panic run down a public road. That is how I would approach Yamaha XJ6 neutral light on but ECU does not see neutral before spending money.

Would you test Yamaha XJ6 neutral light on but ECU does not see neutral cold first, or wait until the symptom appears hot? Mine changes after about twenty minutes.

Thomas Spagnoli: workshop approach for Yamaha XJ6 neutral light on but ECU does not see neutral

Before buying anything for Yamaha XJ6 neutral light on but ECU does not see neutral, I would build a small test path. The cheapest repair is often the one where you do not replace a good part.

1. Inspect the physical installation first: clamps, brackets, heat shields, routing, grounds, fuses, and connector strain.
2. Measure voltage drop under load on electrical faults; for exhaust faults, listen for leaks at the head and joints.
3. Do not ignore heat. Melted plastic, brown terminals, blue pipe sections, and cooked insulation are evidence.
4. After any repair, test hot and cold. Many electrical/exhaust issues behave differently once everything expands.

The best next step is the one that can prove something. A test that only creates another guess is just a more expensive guess.

This is also the kind of method I teach in the free Motorcycle Mechanics Course here on the platform: observe, measure, confirm, repair, then test again. It is much easier to solve Yamaha XJ6 neutral light on but ECU does not see neutral when the process is clear.

If you report back, include the measured values, not only whether it felt better. Numbers make the thread useful for the next rider too.

I have enough to work with now. No heroic parts cannon today, just tests, notes, and hopefully fewer dramatic noises. I like that this turned into a checklist instead of a guessing contest.